Using exploratory factor analysis to define levels of ontology in critical realism

Area of Science:

• Ontology
• Mixed-methods research

Background:

• Critical realism is a philosophical framework often employed in mixed-methods research.
• It posits three ontological domains: empirical, actual, and real.
• Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) is a statistical technique for identifying patterns in data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To illustrate how exploratory factor analysis can be utilized to delineate the ontological domains within critical realism.
• To provide a methodological bridge between statistical pattern identification and philosophical ontological structures.

Main Methods:

• The study demonstrates the application of exploratory factor analysis (EFA).
• EFA is used to analyze data and identify underlying factors and their relationships.
• These statistical findings are then mapped onto the critical realism ontological domains.

Main Results:

• The factors identified through EFA correspond to the empirical domain of critical realism.
• The theoretical connections between these factors represent the link to the real domain.
• The strength of these connections, as determined by EFA, defines the pathways within the actual domain.

Conclusions:

• Exploratory factor analysis provides a robust method for defining the empirical, actual, and real domains of critical realism.
• This integration allows for a comprehensive understanding of a theory by examining its empirical manifestations and underlying causal mechanisms.
• Researchers can quantify the relationship between lived experiences and theoretical constructs.